Percy Tau in action for Al Ahly: Image via Facebook @ Percy Muzi Tau
Al Ahly slam referee after loss to Sundowns
Sundowns’ victory over Al Ahly has not gone down well with the Egyptian side, which has complained of biased officiation.
Percy Tau in action for Al Ahly: Image via Facebook @ Percy Muzi Tau
Mamelodi Sundowns’ 1-0 win over Al Ahly in African Football League (AFL) on October 29 2023 has ignited claims of biased officiation.
Sundowns won the AFL semifinal, first leg clash at Loftus Versfeld Stadium courtesy of Thapelo Maseko’s 52nd minute stunner. However, Al Ahly have slammed referee Djindo Louis Houngnandande for allegedly being biased towards Sundowns during the match.
A match report on Al Ahly website insists the referee from Benin made incorrect calls which favoured the DStv Premiership champions.
ALSO READ: Sundowns build slender semi-final lead at home
Was Percy Tau denied penalty against former club Sundowns?
The Reds are unhappy that they did not earn a late penalty when a Sundowns player pushed Percy Tau.
“Then due to the clear refereeing bias, Rami Rabia received a yellow card,” a report on Al Ahly website www.alahlyegypt.com reads.
“…for objecting to the referee, for ignoring the excessive roughness of the Sundowns players.”
ALSO READ: VIDEO: Maseko scores STUNNER for Mamelodi Sundowns!
“In the stoppage time, the referee strangely overlooked [the] pushing of Percy Tau in the penalty area without intervention from the VAR referees.”
What Egyptian referee head said about Sundowns game
Egyptian head of referees, Tawfiq Al-Sayyed, has also reportedly weighed in on the penalty call debate.
“The referee who officiated today’s match between Al-Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns is very weak,” Al-Sayyed told an Egypt’s Al Watan Sport.
Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller, in a post-match interview, also joined the chorus on those faulting the referee. Koller, according to KingFut.com, claimed that the referee denied Al Ahly a clear penalty.
What Al Ahly coach said about VAR
“I believe we had a penalty towards the end but I don’t know why African officials don’t go to VAR reviews to check such incidents,” he is quoted saying.
Nonetheless, the Swiss coach believes the Egyptians are capable of overturning the tables in the second leg scheduled for Cairo International Stadium.
“Of course, we still have a chance in the second leg in Cairo. I’m confident we will score, especially when we have our fans in the stadium,” Koller added.
ALSO READ: Percy Tau named in Al Ahly starting XI for Sundowns clash!
“I think we played well in the first half. We managed to close down the spaces when we needed to.”
How Maseko’s stunner sealed the win
Sundowns seized control of the match courtesy of Maseko’s volley. The long range strike caught Al Ahly goalkeeper, Mohamed El Shanawy, by surprise.
Meanwhile, the Club of the Century will host Sundowns in the semifinal, second leg match on November 1 2023.
ALSO READ: Mamelodi Sundowns name starting lineup for Al Ahly clash!
Al Ahly have a mountain to climb in the second leg. They need to beat Sundowns by two unanswered goals in order to book a final ticket.
A win by a single goal for Al Ahly in the return match would drag the game straight into post-match penalties.
On the other hand, Sundowns can sail through with any draw with or without goals.
